Becoming a community volunteer in Tanzania is a fantastic opportunity to give something back to the local communities near Dar Es Salaam and get involved in some amazing community projects. On top of all this, Tanzania is a rich and diverse country with an abundance of fascinating places to visit during your free time... all in all making it a must visit gap travel destination!

Tanzania Community Volunteers offers a wide and diverse range of projects for you to become involved in including helping out in nurseries and local schools in the mornings and sports coaching, adult english classes and HIV/AIDS awareness projects in the afternoon, so there is sure to be something for everyone. You'll also be able to split your time between morning and afternoon projects, giving you the opportunity to help at more than one project during the stay and make the most of your time as a volunteer in Tanzania.

In addition to getting involved in some fantastic community volunteering projects, you'll also be staying just a few minutes walk from the beach and the stunning Indian Ocean - a great place to chill out during your free time. Furthermore there are some fantastic optional weekend travel oppportunities that you may wish to treat yourself too as well (these are note included in the programme and will be at your own additional cost) - head out on an exciting safari to some of Tanzania's famous national parks such as the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater, take the ferry over to the tropical spice island of Zanzibar or simply head off to the colourful local markets or explore the picturesque coral islands off the coast of Dar Es Salaam.

What will I be doing?

The project: 2 – 12 weeks

Destination info

Being a volunteer in Tanzania is rewarding as Tanzania is beautiful and it’s the place for some of the very best big game watching in Africa. So it’s a great choice if wildlife’s your thing.

But it’s also a country with many problems and much disadvantage. It’s not the poorest country in Africa, but life expectancy is low – on average people don’t live much beyond their late forties – and there are more than a million HIV and AIDS sufferers. The majority of Tanzanians are subsistence farmers and there is a great deal of poverty in the urban areas. So it’s a country where you have the opportunity to do something meaningful and help local people build better lives for the future. Being a Tanzania volunteer is one way of really doing something rather than just talking about it.

You will be near Dar-es-Salaam – the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Tanzania and one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. As you’d imagine, it’s noisy, bustling and diverse, with great wealth alongside grinding poverty and it’s also on the gorgeous ocean coast – an enticing prospect for your time off. So quite apart from the impact you can make, it’s a lively and interesting place to spend gap year time.

Location: North of Dar es Salaam

Our fantastic Tanzania Community Volunteers programme supports the local communities of Kunduchi, Bahari Beach and other nearby villages north of Dar Es Salaam. As well as helping out at some fantastic community projects you’ll be staying within just a few minutes walk of the beach and stunning Indian Ocean – what more could you ask for!

There’s a wide and diverse range of projects to get involved in during your placement and you’ll be able to split your time between your morning and afternoon projects as the working hours at each project do vary – giving a great opportunity to help out at more than one specific project. You’ll be able to bring your own expertise, creativity and interests to the project you choose and our fantastic in-country team will also be on hand for any help and advice that you may need along the way. Some of the projects that need your help and you could get involved in include:

Nursery schools and day-care centres

Primary and secondary Schools

HIV awareness programmes

Adult English classes

Women’s groups

Sports and football coaching and running competitions

Music – producing, teaching, arranging shows, making music videos

Craft projects; batik, making clothes and jewellery

Building projects

Magazine production – journalism, graphic design, photography

Fundraising – promoting and marketing what the music groups produce; getting funds in for the school construction projects

Your Role: 2 – 12 weeks

Destination info

Being a volunteer in Tanzania is rewarding as Tanzania is beautiful and it’s the place for some of the very best big game watching in Africa. So it’s a great choice if wildlife’s your thing.

But it’s also a country with many problems and much disadvantage. It’s not the poorest country in Africa, but life expectancy is low – on average people don’t live much beyond their late forties – and there are more than a million HIV and AIDS sufferers. The majority of Tanzanians are subsistence farmers and there is a great deal of poverty in the urban areas. So it’s a country where you have the opportunity to do something meaningful and help local people build better lives for the future. Being a Tanzania volunteer is one way of really doing something rather than just talking about it.

You will be in Dar-es-Salaam – the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Tanzania and one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. As you’d imagine, it’s noisy, bustling and diverse, with great wealth alongside grinding poverty and it’s also on the gorgeous ocean coast – an enticing prospect for your time off. So quite apart from the impact you can make, it’s a lively and interesting place to spend gap year time.

Location: North of Dar es Salaam

Your role as a volunteer on the Tanzania Community Volunteers programme will vary depending on the projects that you are placed at and involved in. It is important to be aware that all of these projects require volunteers to use their own initiative – you should also keep in mind that the more time, effort and enthusiasm that you can put in to your volunteer project the more you will get out of it. Past volunteers in Tanzania have organised football competitions for the local children during their free time – this is fantastic way to help children get involved in some extra-curricular activities and learn some new skills.

If you decide to help out in the care centres, or schools (nursery, primary, secondary), you’ll be giving much needed support and assistance to the local teachers who are often over-worked and stretched with large class sizes and limited resources, so your time, support and ideas will no doubt be hugely appreciated. For those volunteering in a school you may also be asked to take your own classes – this may sound daunting but it is hugely worthwhile experience.

What should I expect?: 2 - 12 weeks

Destination info

Being a volunteer in Tanzania is rewarding as Tanzania is beautiful and it’s the place for some of the very best big game watching in Africa. So it’s a great choice if wildlife’s your thing.

But it’s also a country with many problems and much disadvantage. It’s not the poorest country in Africa, but life expectancy is low – on average people don’t live much beyond their late forties – and there are more than a million HIV and AIDS sufferers. The majority of Tanzanians are subsistence farmers and there is a great deal of poverty in the urban areas. So it’s a country where you have the opportunity to do something meaningful and help local people build better lives for the future. Being a Tanzania volunteer is one way of really doing something rather than just talking about it.

You will be near Dar-es-Salaam – the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Tanzania and one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. As you’d imagine, it’s noisy, bustling and diverse, with great wealth alongside grinding poverty and it’s also on the gorgeous ocean coast – an enticing prospect for your time off. So quite apart from the impact you can make, it’s a lively and interesting place to spend gap year time.

Location: North of Dar Es Salaam

Here is how a typical day in the life of a Tanzania volunteer might take shape. Please note that your project may differ from this, depending on your own experience, project choice and the number of other volunteers on the placement at the same time, so this is simply to give an example:

7am: Get up and start getting ready for your project. Eat breakfast.

8am: Begin walking to your project to teach. Most projects are within walking distance; if not, you will catch public transport or both. You will be working at your volunteer project from arrival until about 1pm.

1pm: Lunch break to eat and relax, (please note that Lunch can end up being later in the day - you'll need to get used to living on "Africa Time"!)

2pm: Afternoon session working on your projects, approx two hours. Project times vary depending on activity. Projects may include orphanage work, HIV awareness, music, sports, journalism, arts and crafts and the project co-ordinators welcome volunteers to share their interests and talents.

5pm: End of your working day and time to relax.

7pm: Dinnertime with the other volunteers at the house.

Please note: Lunch is not included. Also, please keep in mind that the times and durations of activities and breaks throughout the day may vary.

There's more to explore....: 2 to 12 weeks

Destination info

Being a volunteer in Tanzania is rewarding as Tanzania is beautiful and it’s the place for some of the very best big game watching in Africa. So it’s a great choice if wildlife’s your thing.

But it’s also a country with many problems and much disadvantage. It’s not the poorest country in Africa, but life expectancy is low – on average people don’t live much beyond their late forties – and there are more than a million HIV and AIDS sufferers. The majority of Tanzanians are subsistence farmers and there is a great deal of poverty in the urban areas. So it’s a country where you have the opportunity to do something meaningful and help local people build better lives for the future. Being a Tanzania volunteer is one way of really doing something rather than just talking about it.

You will be near Dar-es-Salaam – the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Tanzania and one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. As you’d imagine, it’s noisy, bustling and diverse, with great wealth alongside grinding poverty and it’s also on the gorgeous ocean coast – an enticing prospect for your time off. So quite apart from the impact you can make, it’s a lively and interesting place to spend gap year time.

Location: Tanzania

Your weekends on this programme will be your free time to relax and enjoy your new surroundings. Our in-country team have a huge array of optional excursions available (at your own cost), that you can enjoy during your free time.

It goes without saying that Tanzania has some amazing safari destinations, including the famous Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara and some of the lesser known reserves of Selous and Mikumi – all of which make for an exciting safari and weekend excursion.

In addition to safaris there are also a wide range of other excursions available – our in-country team will be able to help you in arranging these during your placement.

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What's included?

Your airport transfer on arrival on start date

Project orientation

Breakfast & dinner, as described

Accommodation during your programme

Permit for volunteering

What's not included?

All flights

Travel insurance

Return airport transfer

Additional tourist visa

Lunches and drinks

Transport to and from the project sites

Excursions during free time

Additional Information & FAQs

Minimum age

Minimum 17 years with written parental consent, maximum decided on potential participants’ health.

Accommodation

There is a large volunteer house located in a former hotel building in the Bahari Beach area, approximately 25km from Dar es Salaam city centre.

The house is only a 5 minute walk from the beach. The house is safe and comfortable but is basic, compared to what you are used to at home. Compared to how some of the local communities live though, this is luxury.

The house has around 19 bedrooms and you will be sharing a room with up to five other volunteers. There is also a lounge area for you to relax in the evenings, as well as a bar area with a pool table, the bar is open most days for you to enjoy in the evenings. There are often live music events and parties for the volunteers in the social area. Internet is not available at the volunteer house however there is an internet café nearby which you can visit during your free time, at your own expense.

Most of the volunteer projects are within walking or cycling distance or a bus ride away from the volunteer house. There are several members of staff at this house who are there for your safety. However, you will be expected to assist in keeping the volunteer house clean and tidy and to the standards that you require.

Departures from February onwards:

For some departures in February onwards and then for all departures after June 2014 you will be in brand new volunteer accommodation. The new accommodation in located about 3km away from the old Bahari Beach volunteer house. It is an eco compound whereby the building is built from recycled and natural materials. There is even the luxury of a swimming pool and a sauna!

Meals

All meals are served at the house. You will be provided with two meals each day; breakfast (consisting of bread, jam, fruit, tea and coffee) and dinner (either rice, pasta, potatoes or chapati with meat, vegetables and salad), prepared for you by the cook.

Advice & Safety

Throughout your programmes you will have the support and guidance of the programme co-ordinator and team. You will be provided with competent assistance and help with any questions or advice you may need during your stay.

You will be assigned a personal travel advisor who will co-ordinate your programme with you. Feel free to contact them at any time before you go, or when you are on your travels.

In addition, you will have access to a 24 hour emergency contact number so you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.

FAQ

1. Does it matter that I do not speak Swahili?

No, during your time you will have some language lessons to help introduce yourself, however most people on your project will speak English.

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(10/10)

Please rate your airport pickup (where applicable)

(10/10)

Please rate your in-country orientation

(10/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

Teaching at the Nursery and helping at an orphanage, travelling to Zanzibar and going to the full moon party, Getting to know the locals and meeting new people.

Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?

Be prepared that most things are done quite slowly, as everyone is really chilled out and relaxed. Be open minded about getting to know the locals, they help to make your experience.

Would you travel with our company again?

yes

Would you recommend us?

10

Tanzania Community Volunteers2014-08-13

Amy Warren - August 2014

How would you rate your overall experience?

(10/10)

Give us up to 10 words that sum up your experience: for example - "Great experience, made new friends, totally unforgettable!"

Amazing experience, love tanzania, book your trip now!

Please rate the service received from our team before departure

(9/10)

Please rate the accuracy of your pre-departure information

(8/10)

Please rate the service provided by the team in country

(10/10)

Please rate the accommodation during your stay

(10/10)

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(10/10)

Please rate your airport pickup (where applicable)

(10/10)

Please rate your in-country orientation

(10/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

Teaching adult english was very rewarding as the adults really wanted to learn and appreciated the teaching so much. Visitng Zanzibar was really good, and the sights of zanzibar are amazing, i.e prison island, sandbank and stone town. General day to day life was always enjoyable and i made loads of great friends. Free time was mostly spent at the beach which was great as it is so nearby. Going to a national football match at the stadium in Dar was really cool also.

Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?

Pack clothes for going out/clubbing in because it does not specify this on what to pack and you do need going out clothes.
Be prepared to be stared at by locals, they mean no harm they are just intrigued to see white people, and are mostly very welcoming.
When you arrive at the airport you should have some dollars that you can exchange and get Tanzanian shillings, it makes sense to get them as soon as possible, but you have to use dollars, not pounds.
Wifi is provided at the house, for a small charge.

Would you travel with our company again?

yes

Would you recommend us?

10

Tanzania Community Volunteers2014-08-02

Nathalie Alva - March 2014

How would you rate your overall experience?

(8/10)

Give us up to 10 words that sum up your experience: for example - "Great experience, made new friends, totally unforgettable!"

Learnt more about myself, made friends for life, worthwhile.

Please rate the service received from our team before departure

(9/10)

Please rate the accuracy of your pre-departure information

(7/10)

Please rate the service provided by the team in country

(8/10)

Please rate the accommodation during your stay

(7/10)

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(7/10)

Please rate your airport pickup (where applicable)

(10/10)

Please rate your in-country orientation

(8/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

The trip to the Serengeti was definitely the highlight of my trip. Getting away from the city to a quieter and more serene place was lovely.

Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?

1. Take plenty of mosquito repellent and sunscreen
2. Drink plenty of water
3. Be patient as time works differently in Tanzania. Everything is slow. But this helps you relax and not stress so much about time. You forget time while you're there

Would you travel with our company again?

yes

Would you recommend us?

7

Tanzania Community Volunteers2014-03-06

Helen Green - August 2013

How would you rate your overall experience?

(10/10)

Please rate the service received from our team before departure

(9/10)

Please rate the accuracy of your pre-departure information

(9/10)

Please rate the service provided by the team in country

(10/10)

Please rate the accommodation during your stay

(9/10)

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(10/10)

Please rate your airport pickup (where applicable)

(7/10)

Please rate your in-country orientation

(9/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

Teaching at the schools and adult, helping at the orphanage, Visiting Zanzibar, Going on safari to the Ngorongoro crater, lake Manyara and staying in a Masai village overnight.

Would you travel with our company again?

yes

Would you recommend us?

Yes

Tanzania Community Volunteers2013-08-06

Helen Gardner - February 2013

How would you rate your overall experience?

(9/10)

Give us up to 10 words that sum up your experience: for example - "Great experience, made new friends, totally unforgettable!"

A new angle not available from the back of a tour bus

Please rate the service received from our team before departure

(7/10)

Please rate the accuracy of your pre-departure information

(9/10)

Please rate the service provided by the team in country

(9/10)

Please rate the accommodation during your stay

(8/10)

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(8/10)

Please rate your airport pickup (where applicable)

(10/10)

Please rate your in-country orientation

(9/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

teaching adult English

Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?

take string and a couple of clothes pegs to rig up a washing line
you don't necessarily need strong DEET - the Boots own milder non DEET (but still for malarial areas) version worked just as well and smelt nice

Would you travel with our company again?

yes

Would you recommend us?

Yes

Tanzania Community Volunteers2013-02-10

Charlotte Prosser - September 2012

How would you rate your overall experience?

(7/10)

Please rate the service received from our team before departure

(5/10)

Please rate the accuracy of your pre-departure information

(7/10)

Please rate the service provided by the team in country

(9/10)

Please rate the accommodation during your stay

(9/10)

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(8/10)

Please rate your airport pickup (where applicable)

(8/10)

Please rate your in-country orientation

(9/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

Teaching the adult english classes ans meeting awesome people

Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?

Go with an open mind

Would you travel with our company again?

yes

Would you recommend us?

Yes

Tanzania Community Volunteers2012-09-24

Chris Cook - October 2011

How would you rate your overall experience?

(10/10)

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(10/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

Volunteering and staying the night with the maasai

Would you travel with our company again?

Yes

Would you recommend us?

Yes

Tanzania Community Volunteers2011-10-11

Kristina Poulsen - October 2011

How would you rate your overall experience?

(8/10)

Please rate the service received from our team before departure

(7/10)

Please rate the service provided by the team in country

(7/10)

Please rate the accommodation during your stay

(4/10)

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(8/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

A weekend on Zanzibar 3-days safari Meeting the other volunteers Coral Island

Would you travel with our company again?

Yes

Would you recommend us?

Yes

Tanzania Community Volunteers2011-10-11

Thomas Robinson - October 2011

How would you rate your overall experience?

(8/10)

Please rate the service received from our team before departure

(7/10)

Please rate the service provided by the team in country

(9/10)

Please rate the accommodation during your stay

(4/10)

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(8/10)

Would you travel with our company again?

No

Would you recommend us?

No

Tanzania Community Volunteers2011-10-11

Laura Wright - July 2011

Please rate the service provided by the team in country

(6/10)

Please rate the accommodation during your stay

(2/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

Working with the children at the school Going on Safari

Would you travel with our company again?

Yes

Would you recommend us?

Yes

Tanzania Community Volunteers2011-07-04

Alex Parker - July 2011

How would you rate your overall experience?

(10/10)

Give us up to 10 words that sum up your experience: for example - "Great experience, made new friends, totally unforgettable!"

its not possible to summarise a months trip in one of the world's most amazing country

Please rate the service received from our team before departure

(8/10)

Please rate the service provided by the team in country

(9/10)

Please rate the accommodation during your stay

(8/10)

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(10/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

teaching at kundudchi nursery school taking a hiv awareness class visiting zanzibar visiting coral island the volunteers i met most of the knowing that i am now helping 2 children with the rest of their education by independently sponsoring them with art in tanzania

Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?

throw yourself into your projects, experience every moment as if its your last because however long your going for its never going to be enough to experience every element that tanzania has to offer. make sure you take your malaria tablets

Would you travel with our company again?

No

Would you recommend us?

Yes

Tanzania Community Volunteers2011-07-04

Laura Stopher Clark - July 2011

How would you rate your overall experience?

(8/10)

Give us up to 10 words that sum up your experience: for example - "Great experience, made new friends, totally unforgettable!"

unorganised, rewarding, really friendly people

Please rate the service received from our team before departure

(10/10)

Please rate the service provided by the team in country

(3/10)

Please rate the accommodation during your stay

(5/10)

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(10/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

My lessons in adult English, it was a really rewarding experience.

Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?

bring lots of sunscreen, baggy clothes and a mirror

Would you travel with our company again?

Yes

Would you recommend us?

Yes

Tanzania Community Volunteers2011-07-04

Michelle Ward - July 2011

How would you rate your overall experience?

(7/10)

Give us up to 10 words that sum up your experience: for example - "Great experience, made new friends, totally unforgettable!"

Good experience, made new friends, unforgettable.

Please rate the service received from our team before departure

(7/10)

Please rate the service provided by the team in country

(5/10)

Please rate the accommodation during your stay

(6/10)

Please rate the worthwhileness of any volunteering in your trip if applicable.

(10/10)

What were the highlights of your trip?

Teaching the children at the schools.

Do you have 3 top tips for future travellers?

Be prepared for the laidback attitude - remember everything is done on African time. Take lots of mosquito repellent. Be prepared to get stuck into the projects.